47 Years Ago This Week – The AFL-NFL Merger

I’m not sure what would’ve happened had Al Davis gotten his way – the league’s management types AFL and NFL might have bankrupted one another – am sure the players would not have protested too much if said had occurred (Al/the AFL might have won, though perhaps cutting off their noses to spite their collective face.)

Shall not forget Davis legendary “just win baby” line… no matter the co$t even off-field as on, perhaps. Too, I’ve always wondered / suspected that maybe, just maybe Lamar Hunt’s (not so) secret meetings with Tex Schramm got the ire of the prideful Davis up (leaving him out of the loop so to speak also a burr in his saddle). Upshot, said heated up the KC vs OAK rivalry, which, thereaft became the annual slug-fests AFL fans so remember.

Back to the merger, said had an effect on every pro football team: no longer did a player have the leverage of AFL & NFL separately contending for his $ervices.

A team like Denver benefited:the first # 1 draft pick they ever signed was Floyd Little in 1967 and it helped stabilize a franchise that was seriously considering moving early that year.

Even a team with more financial strength (KC) had been contemplating moving yet again by 1965, due to attendance not matching owner expectation (neither too was the team meeting fans expectations same, but that’s another story.)

Unlike Denver, the merger had the opposite effect on the Chiefs. For all of the excellent scouting attributed to KC up to that point, fact is after the common draft began the Chiefs were left to sign the guys they alone drafted & were not able to outbid NFL counterparts who drafted the same guy , a tack employed previously. I think they benefited more so from Hunt’s wallet than they did a sheer talent evaluation superiority over their competitors.

By 1970 and thereaft, the Chiefs drafted so poorly / obtained talent otherwise more miss than hit same, it ultimately cost Hank Stram his job. I also believe similarly the common draft benefited teams like the Steelers & Dolphins, who went from perennial doormats to Champions in the 1970’s.